Builds LX450 where to start! (3 Viewers)

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There is a block drain. Peek through drivers wheel curtain.
 
Griffin doesn't make one, I will check the price on the OEM radiator too. I am just not sure I have time to replace it before I jump on the road for a big trip.....

I am driving from San Antonio TX, to Moab UT, on Friday. I am going to drive in the evening when it is cooler, hopefully I can make it to Moab without too many issues. I have family there so I can do a real flush of the system and radiator.

Right now with the 104 degree temps in Texas with the cruise set at 80 and the A/C on the truck will get up to 222 on the scangauge.



Garth said:
Does Griffin make one for the 80? I replaced mine with the old-style OE brass unit and was very happy.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks I will check that out! I have the Prestone flush kit I will tee into the upper heater hose and open the radiator and block and just flush it and see if I can't get enough crap out to have it running a little cooler.

rolliges said:
There is a block drain. Peek through drivers wheel curtain.
Click to expand...
 
I am tempted to go with a brass/copper radiator but everything I have been reading says that the aluminum is stronger, will last longer, and cool better, but it isn't real science it seems to be coming from the car magazines and the aluminum radiator manufacturers.

I am going to try a couple good flushes and hope that gets me by until I get back from Moab, and Colorado and can figure out a replacement.
 
The aluminum oem one's also have plastic as well. This forum indicates brass to be the path. However the 1997 I replaced did not need to be replaced. It was done as a PM to do. so 17 yrs or so old and still working fine.
 
Ok well after all that it turns out I needed another set of eyes and hands. I had my dad helping me and he noticed that the water flow stopped as RPM's went up. The water pump impeller was spinning on the shaft. Only effected at high RPM's moving. At idle there was enough drag on the shaft and impeller. Onur is hooking me up and sending one to Moab. Thanks again to the good people on the board with lots of good ideas!
 
scottryana said:
Ok well after all that it turns out I needed another set of eyes and hands. I had my dad helping me and he noticed that the water flow stopped as RPM's went up. The water pump impeller was spinning on the shaft. Only effected at high RPM's moving. At idle there was enough drag on the shaft and impeller. Onur is hooking me up and sending one to Moab. Thanks again to the good people on the board with lots of good ideas!
Click to expand...

In your hands Monday sir.

:cheers:
 
I picked up a radiator here locally for $130 that seems to replicate stock. My fellow mudder mechanic friend has had his for a while.
image-3896813774.jpg
 
Thanks!

Big kuddos to Onur! He got me the water pump on Monday just like he said. I threw it in with a new blue fan clutch, and was able to get back to enjoying my vacation! Ran up and over Imogene Pass from Moab, about a 10 hour trip with some big long steep grades and temp was perfect!
 
This is a total bummer, I was in Moab this weekend picking up my mothers LX450 (they also live there) to do some work and would have helped you. Hell, I ordered a window regulator from onur on Saturday and he told me he was shipping someone a pump.

I'm glad you got it fixed.
 
Thanks! Yeah it was a pretty easy job since I had a new fan clutch and water pump. Just sawzall'd the studs off the old pump, the clutch and fan came right off through the shroud, loosened the alternator dropped the pump and new clutch back on, reinstalled the belts and were up and running probably an hour and 15 min job. But it gives me lots of piece of mind that the cooling system is in great shape :)
 
Couple of quick shots from Hell's revenge. I have never been able to capture how steep some of the things here in Moab feel on camera. Like the last pic it's the steepest ledge to the left entering Hell's Revenge and it looks like you could drive a civic down it. Ha. It was the only thing I drug my bumpers on, and I only drug the rear, which is more than the jeep guys can say that were banging and crashing along.
image-3593998547.jpg
image-1705467406.jpg
image-2735344101.jpg
 
Awesome photos! Somewhat similar to what we have here in the andes mountains. As soon as I take my new LX to a photo-worthy location, I will post. Regards,
 
Truck ran awesome the 17 1/2 hour drive home, I got to thinking about it, and running for 17 1/2 hours only stopping for gas and pit stops is a lot to ask of any truck, especially one that is almost 17 years old.

The only hill that gave me much of a problem heat wise was that really long hill coming out of Albuquerque on Hwy 40E. It is 65mph, I had the cruise set at 76mph, and the over drive off, A/C on high and I hit the top at 206 degrees.

If I were going to keep this truck long term I would definitely supercharge it. I like where the gears fall with the 35's it just needs a little more power.

But I think it is time for a new project so I will probably be cleaning it up, changing all the fluids and listing it for sale, I have a wild new idea I want to get started on. :)
 
Just read through the build. You have put in a lot of work, and money in some very nice parts in this 80. Definitely worth the money. Good luck with the sale and hope to see you on some trails in Texas.
 
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